Alien Stadium

Livin’ in Elizabethan Times

(Double Six)

Alien Stadium stage an abbreviated but entertaining invasion from outer space with their four-track EP Livin’ in Elizabethan Times.

“This One’s for the Humans” depicts the arrival of a friendly extra-terrestrial species, the stomping beat and rolling riffs suggesting a love of earthling blues-rock. But matters take a sinister turn on “The Visitation” in which a voice intones “You’re far from unique,” followed by a Doctor Who-style fusillade of lasers and rat-a-tat percussion: “Die, die, die, die!”

The project is a collaboration between members of two venerable Anglo-Scottish indie acts: Steve Mason, formerly of the Beta Band, and Primal Scream’s Martin Duffy. Imaginative orchestral arrangements and spacey electronics are anchored to a strong rhythmic core, a mark of both musicians’ previous work. The result is playful and surreal but also disciplined.

“This One’s for the Humans” builds bustling horns and jangling piano trills onto its blues-rock base. “Titanic Dance (Lynch Mob Mix)” combines classic Primal Scream dance-rock with Beta Band psychedelia as the aliens take the strangely familiar form of the British hard nut (“Come and have a go, you’ll never take us alive”). Here’s to a longer engagement next time.

★★★☆☆

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